Maryborough’s mighty murals making mark on tourism map

More than 30 paintings now celebrate the history and heart of the Heritage City. Here’s why they are getting a reputation and how you can help spread the word.

(L) Mural Project volunteer Rai Whitten and co-founder Deb Hannam in front of two murals, (L) The Exchange which is currently being repaired and the mural Our World. Photo: Stuart Fast

Since the Maryborough Mural Project started seven years ago, it has grown to feature more than 30 works widely recognised for their quality and as a major draw card for the Heritage City.

Co-founder Deb Hannam said it was great to see the positive impact the project had on the city and believed it was now well on its way to reach its full potential.

(bottom) Amanda, Fiona and Billy McCracken from Beemart in Maryborough with a mural.

“Our emphasis now is publicising and getting locals to promote it to friends and family,” she said.

“When I go around to different things, people say to me they love the murals and a job well done … behind the scenes we have a great team of people and some of them have been with us since the start.”

The trail has been recognised across Queensland and Australia as a must see in Queenland, having featured recently in the RACQ Road Ahead Magazine, and in Escape Magazine.

Frank Lawrence mural outside the Military and Colonial Museum. This mural commemorates Squadron Leader Frank Lawrence DFC DFM, RAAF, Maryborough’s most decorated World War II veteran and his flight to drop foodstuffs and other vital supplies to the starving residents of Rotterdam, The Netherlands on 3 May 1945. The artist, Benjamin Higgins, or Mr Mupz as he calls himself, is a member of the Rythmincolour Collective – a Sunshine Coast based group of artists specialising in mural art. credit: Reuben Nutt escape 25 april 2021

Road Ahead highlighted the mural project and its connection to Maryborough military history, with artwork of the Battle of Long Tan, tributes to local Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Frank Lawrence and army chaplain Reverend Philip Thomas Byard “Tubby” Clayton.

Mural - Walter Reeves (Uncle Wilfie), the Moonie Jarl Storyteller of the Butchulla people. He enlisted in the Army in 1942, serving in the 39th Infantry Battalion where he saw service on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea. The artist, Warraba Weatherall is a contemporary artist from the Kamilaroi Nation of South West Queensland and has an extensive history in street art. credit: Tim Bond escape 25 april 2021.

It was part of a double-page spread which covered the Gallipoli to Armistice War Memorial and took readers in a journey with the first Anzac ashore, Maryborough’s Duncan Chapman.

The RACQ Road Ahead April/May 2021 edition which features the Maryborough Mural Trail. Photo: Contributed

Road Ahead is the state’s largest circulating magazine. The print version is sent to 836,000 members and the digital version goes to 444,000.

Editor Ray Andersen said his team saw it as a great opportunity to promote the memorial and Maryborough’s link to World War I in the leadup to Anzac Day.

Ms Hannam said “we think any publicity for the city is good even if it’s not just about us. It shows there is such a diverse range of things to do here.”

The mural project is currently consulting with street artists and brainstorming on a design for the next mural to be painted in Maryborough.

“We want to do more iconic ones, Maryborough still has a few big walls,” she said

“We’d love to do some really big ones.”

Originally published as Maryborough’s mighty murals making mark on tourism map